Student Diversity Leadership Gathering
Fifth Annual Gathering
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023 | In person | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Participation is free.
The Harker School’s upper school campus | 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose
The fifth annual Student Diversity Leadership Gathering will be led by Rodney Glasgow (diversity facilitator extraordinaire from the People of Color Conference/Student Diversity Leadership Conference). Participants will experience an empowering interactional space in which students and adults will:
- self-reflect
- develop cross-cultural communication skills
- examine strategies for social justice practice
- practice the foundations of ally-ship and networking principles
- and more.
While this is primarily a student-focused event, led by the Student Diversity Coalition, there will be breakout opportunities for adults as well. This event is for grade 9-12 students and employees of their schools.
Our goal is to connect with students, faculty and staff in California schools who want to further explore diversity and social activism through an experiential program that will deepen our thinking and understanding, while exploring the dynamics of identity and fostering kinship within and across affinity groups.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Rodney Glasgow
Dr. Rodney Glasgow is a noted speaker, facilitator, trainer and activist in the areas of diversity, equity, and social justice. He has given a number of keynote presentations, delivered workshops, and offered consultation to schools and organizations nationwide. He was a member of Call to Action, the advisory board to the Vice President of Equity and Justice for the National Association of Independent Schools. Additionally, he is an advisory board member for the Family Diversity Projects, Inc. He was on the Board of Directors for The Friendly House, a Worcester based community empowerment organization, and a Community Solutions Council Specialist for Supporting Positive Youth Development with the United Way of Central Massachusetts. In 2009, he was given the People of Courage Award by the City of Worcester for his work with the Greater Worcester Community Foundation’s LGBT Initiative. He is one of the founding members and now Chair of the National Association of Independent School’s annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference, a 20 year old training ground drawing over 1500 high school students nationwide. Last year, Rodney launched the National Diversity Practitioners Institute , a summer intensive for diversity practitioners. He is also the founder of Diversity in the DMV , a one day conference for students and educators. Rodney is a featured writer in the book Diversity in Independent Schools , and he wrote the prologue for the recently released One Teacher in Ten in the New Millennium: LGBT Educators Speak Out About What’s Gotten Better…And What Hasn’t.
A graduate of Harvard University with a joint degree in Afro American Studies and Psychology, and holding a Master of Arts in Organization and Leadership from Columbia University, he is also an independent school alum, having graduated from Gilman School in his hometown of Baltimore, MD. An experienced educator, trainer, and administrator for students and faculty in grades kindergarten through post graduate, Mr. Glasgow has been the Diversity Coordinator at Graland Country Day School, Assistant Head of Upper School and Director of Diversity for Worcester Academy, and is currently the Head of School at Sandy Spring Friends School in Sandy Springs, MD. He is also President of The Glasgow Group , a consortium of dynamic, innovative consultants.
Priyanka Rupani
Priyanka Rupani (she/her) is currently the assistant principal (assistant head of school) at Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. Prior to working at Parker, Ms. Rupani served as the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, where she is an alum. Previously, she served as the director of diversity, equity, and social justice at the Friends School of Baltimore. Ms. Rupani completed her B.A. from Northwestern University and her M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania. She has taught math and African-American history to high schoolers and was a member of the 2010 Teach for America Corps in Philadelphia. She is also a faculty member for the National Association of Independent Schools’ annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference and a principal consultant for the Glasgow Group. Through this work, she consults on topics of DEI and education for organizations nationwide.
Event Schedule
| Agenda | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Check-In Begins | Rothschild Performing Arts Center (RPAC) |
| 8:50 a.m. | Doors Open | RPAC |
| 9 a.m. | Keynote Speakers | Dr. Rodney Glasgow, Priyanka Rupani (Speaker Bios) |
| 10 a.m. | Students & Adults Sessions Pt. 1 Begin | RPAC / Nichols Hall Atrium |
| 12 p.m. | Lunch | Manzanita Hall |
| 12:40 p.m. | Students & Adults Sessions Pt. 2 Begin | RPAC / Nichols Hall Atrium |
| 3:10 p.m. | Closing | RPAC |
| 4 p.m. | SDLG Ends | |
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Harker
Diversity, equity and inclusion is at the core of our mission and philosophy at The Harker School. We are firmly dedicated to building, sustaining and retaining a safe, loving and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, staff, families and alumni, and expect all members in the Harker community to participate and engage in this work collectively. Through our educational opportunities for students, and development opportunities for faculty, staff and parents, we embrace the conversations needed so that our students are equipped to be the changemakers needed in our country and throughout the world.
